Juror Information

Contact:  Jury Department, (312) 435-5684
 
Last Updated: 10/23/2002

	JURY PLAN FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS		REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT OR PERMANENT EXCUSE
	PLACE OF HOLDING COURT		MESSAGE TO EMPLOYERS
	JOB PROTECTION		GRAND JURY SERVICE
	JUROR AVAILABILITY		FAILURE TO REPORT FOR JURY DUTY
	INITIAL APPEARANCE		FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
	COMPENSATION FOR SERVING AS A JUROR		MISCELLANEOUS JURY ORDERS
	PATTERN JURY INSTRUCTIONS

PLACE OF HOLDING COURT

• EASTERN DIVISION (FOR CHICAGO, ILLINOIS)
• WESTERN DIVISION (FOR ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS)

EASTERN DIVISION - CHICAGO
If you have been summoned for jury duty by the United States District Court in Chicago, Illinois, which comprises the counties of Cook, Du Page, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, La Salle and Will, you cannot be transferred from the U. S. District Court to another location. The address for the courthouse is:

U. S. District Court Jury Assembly Room No. 250 219 S. Dearborn Street Chicago, IL 60604 Tel: 312-435-5684 Fax: 312-554-8673 *The courthouse is located on Dearborn between Jackson and Adams street. You are to report to the Chicago courthouse unless you have determined telephonically that you have been excused or postponed.  See the instructions included in your summon package for details.

WESTERN DIVISION - ROCKFORD
If you have been summoned for jury duty by the United States District Court in Santa Ana, which comprises the Counties of Boone, Carroll, De Kalb, Jo Davis, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago, you cannot be transferred from the U. S. District Court to another location. The address for the courthouse is:

U. S. District Court 211 South Court Street Rockford, Illinois 61101 Fax: 815-987-4291 *View in Map You are to report to the Rockford courthouse unless you are notified that you have been excused or postponed.

You are protected by Federal Statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1875, from being discharged, intimidated or coerced by your permanent employer because of your attendance for service at this Court. Further information is available from the jury clerk. Also see MESSAGE TO EMPLOYERS in the Jury Information menu.

JUROR AVAILABILITY

As a petit juror (trial juror) you will be ON CALL to serve for a two week period beginning on the date that appears on your summons. You will call (800) 572-4210 after 5:00 p.m. on the evening prior to reporting to verify your appearance and each evening after 5:00 p.m. for the remaining of the two-week term. If you are not available, you must contact the Jury Section in writing prior to your report date. The Chicago court has an Automated Jury Information System (AJIS) which provides current information regarding your status. If you need further assistance, you may contact the Jury Section at (312) 435-5684 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. If your service is not required and you nonetheless appear, you may not be entitled to any fees.

Days that you are not available during your availability period may be accommodated, provided you have not been selected to be on a trial. Your jury service will then be extended accordingly.

INITIAL APPEARANCE

Be prepared to stay until 5:00 p.m. on your first day. On most days you will appear between 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Please bring your summons, a pen and reading materials with you. Please dress for an office type setting. You may use your laptop and cell phone in the jury lounge only.

COMPENSATION FOR SERVING AS A JUROR

As a juror you are entitled to:

1. $40.00 for each day of attendance.            
 
2. 44.5 cents per mile, round trip.  Mileage is determined by zip code.            
 
3. These fees will be included in your juror paycheck, which will be mailed to you within 5-7 business days after the two-week term.  A subvoucher, mailed separately if requested, will also be provided for proof of service and should used for tax purposes.            
 
4. Federal employees, except the Postal Service, are not entitled to attendance fees, but will receive mileage.

REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT OR PERMANENT EXCUSE

If a juror cannot appear on the date summoned, the information form must be completed and returned within 10 days upon receipt along with a letter requesting excuse or deferment.  All postponement requests must be made in writing. Postponements are limited to maximum of six (6) months.

A request for excuse/deferment must be made in writing. The letter must be from the person receiving the summons, not your employer, although the employer may submit a request as well. Letters from employers or any other source will only be considered to support your request. Requests due to a medical condition must be accompanied by a doctor's statement indicating whether the condition is temporary or permanent.

A juror cannot ask to be postponed or excused on the next report date. The juror must begin his/her jury service at that time. If you wish to speak to a clerk in the Jury Section, you may call (312) 435-5684 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. each weekday.

If a juror submits a request to be postponed or excused, it is the juror's responsibility to verify that the request has been granted. Please call the Automated Jury Information System (800) 572-4210 if you were summoned to the Chicago courthouse. Information received by the Jury Section is updated in our telephone system throughout the day. Please do not call the automated system if you have not returned your information form. You must have your summons available to use this system.

Lack of transportation or distance from your home to the court is not a valid excuse for not serving as a juror. The following phone numbers will provide you information regarding public transportation service in:

MESSAGE TO EMPLOYERS

Your employee has been summoned to jury duty in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Jurors are obligated to remain on call for jury service for a two-week period. During that time, they will be called for specific cases and are usually released for the day by 4:30 p.m. In the two-week period, the average time a juror will serve is 3-5 days in Chicago.

In most instances, the burden of Federal Court jury service is not so overwhelming that it could not be absorbed by business or other establishments with relative ease. You may not know that in order to insure that the serious need for federal jurors is met, in 1978 the "Protection of Juror's Employment Statute" (Title 28, United States Code, Section 1875) was enacted. The statute demonstrates the attitude of the United States Congress toward assuring adequate representation and the corresponding duty of employers to their employees and to the justice system.

Financial hardship claimed as an excuse by an individual summoned for jury duty is not usually a valid reason for the Court to grant release especially if the individual is working regularly in a permanent position with a salary or set hourly rate. Unless there are some compelling reasons for that excuse, it will not be granted. If your employment policy is against paying employees while they are on jury duty, you are now asked to reconsider that policy. As you may know federal jurors are paid $40.00 per day for their services, paying the difference between your employee's salary should not be overly burdensome.

GRAND JURY SERVICE

A Federal Grand Jury is investigatory or accusatory in contrast to a petit jury, which is a trial jury. If you have been randomly selected as a prospective grand juror for the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, you will be notified by mail when and where to report. Upon receipt of the summons, complete the information form and return it to the U. S. District Court within five days in the postage paid envelope provided.

A request for an excusal or postponement must be in writing and attached to your completed information form. If you were summoned in Chicago, you may call the Automated Jury Information System (AJIS) to verify whether your request has been approved. To receive information regarding your status, call (800) 572-4210 no earlier than ten business days prior to your scheduled reporting date. Please do not call the automated system if you have not returned your completed information sheet.

Letters from employers requesting that their employee be excused from Grand Jury Service will only be considered if accompanied by a letter from the prospective juror.

Requests for excusal or postponement will not be handled over the telephone.

A DOCTOR'S STATEMENT must be attached to your completed information form if you are requesting an excuse due to medical reasons. The statement must indicate whether the condition is temporary or permanent.

You CANNOT be transferred from the United States District Court, Chicago or Rockford to any county court.

If you ask for an excuse on impanelment day and are granted an excuse or postponement, you will not be paid mileage or attendance.  If your request is denied, be prepared to participate and remain for the grand jury selection, which will end at approximately 1:00 P.M.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

Approximately 65 grand jurors are expected to appear. The clerk will randomly select 23 members to be grand jurors. The remaining individuals will be selected as alternate grand jurors and will take the place of a member who must be permanently excused.

If you are selected as a Grand Juror or alternate, please expect to remain throughout most of the day. The selection process and following instruction will require your attendance.

LENGTH OF SERVICE

Grand Jury Service is for a period of eighteen months. If selected on a grand jury, you will appear once per week at the U. S. District Court. Advance notice will be available by telephone.

FAILURE TO REPORT FOR JURY DUTY

Title 28 United States Code, Section 1864(b) states that persons who are summoned to appear for Federal Jury Service and fail to appear may then be ordered to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of court for non-compliance with the court summons. Persons then failing to appear or to show cause for non-appearance may be fined not more than $100.00 or imprisoned for not more than three (3) days, or both.